Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 67 - 66: You’re Going Home to Stay By Yourself? Aren’t You Scared?
Xu Su was silent for a moment. She couldn’t have asked for more. She had no good feelings for any of the men in the Xu Family, and she certainly didn’t want to waste her breath teaching him.
Spotting a folding chair in the corner, Xu Su walked over, unfolded it, and sat down. She didn’t say a single word to Xu Hao the entire time.
Yang Yun didn’t come knocking until dinner was ready.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Xu Weiping decided the family would stay at the old house to see in the new year with his parents instead of going home.
But the old house was full. In the end, they decided that Xu Hao and his brother would sleep with their uncle, while Xu Weiping and his wife would take their precious son to stay in their nephew’s room.
As for Xu Su?
There was truly no space left for Xu Su, not that she wanted to squeeze in anyway. Seeing the troubled looks on the adults’ faces, she took the initiative. "I’ll go home and stay there."
Chen Shulan hesitated. "Will you be scared all by yourself? How about you sleep on the folding chair? You can just make do for one night."
The folding chair she was talking about was the one Xu Su had been sitting in all afternoon. It was a woven bamboo recliner, Mr. Xu’s favorite in the summer, which had been put away in the room to collect dust for the winter.
Xu Su’s lips twitched. ’Even if I were scared to death of being alone, I wouldn’t let myself be pathetic enough to sleep on a folding chair on New Year’s Eve.’
"I’m not scared. But if I sleep in the chair, I’m worried I’ll catch a cold after the holiday. The buses are still running, Mom, so I’ll head back now."
It was only around seven in the evening, so the buses hadn’t stopped running for the night.
Hearing this, Chen Shulan, who had been about to ask her to wash the dishes, held her tongue. "Alright then, you go on back by yourself," she said. "Just remember to come over for breakfast first thing tomorrow."
It had snowed lightly for a few days about half a month ago, but the weather since had been persistently gloomy and drizzly. Today was the first day it had finally cleared up, but now that night had fallen, it was still cold enough to make a person shiver.
Xu Su put on her gloves and scarf, downed a cup of hot water, and then left.
The old house was extremely remote. Only after winding through several small alleys and making a few turns did she finally reach the brightly lit main road.
While waiting at the bus stop, Xu Su glanced at her rapidly changing surroundings and saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance of a Xinhua Bookstore not far away.
A moment later, as if sensing her gaze, the person looked up in her direction. Then, Xu Su saw it was Xi Zirong, walking toward her with a book bag in his hand.
Xu Su: "..."
’Is this what you’d expect from an academic god? Instead of celebrating with his family on New Year’s Eve, he’s out at a bookstore buying books.’
The boy quickly walked up to her, gave her a quick once-over, and glanced at his watch. "Xu Su, are you taking the bus home?" he asked. "Today is New Year’s Eve; the last bus was at seven. There aren’t any more running."
’A bolt from the blue!’
Xu Su looked up in shock. "Really?"
She completely believed Xi Zirong wouldn’t lie. She started weighing her options: walk all the way to her new home, or go back and spend the night on that bamboo folding chair.
Xi Zirong knew where Xu Su’s new home was. He nodded. "Your place is pretty far from here. It would take over an hour to walk. If you want to go back, I can give you a ride on my bike."
Xu Su was hesitant. Letting Xi Zirong give her a ride was undoubtedly a better option than walking for an hour alone against the cold wind on New Year’s Eve.
She really, really didn’t want to go back and sleep in that bamboo chair.
Seeing her hesitate, Xi Zirong said, "My house is very close. Do you want to wait here, or come with me to my house to get my bike?"
’Come home with me...’
Xu Su shook her head sharply. "Forget it. It’s New Year’s Eve; you should go be with your family. I know the way back on my own."
Xu Su waved her hand to say goodbye, but before she could even turn around, Xi Zirong grabbed her by the arm.
Frowning, Xi Zirong looked down at her. "Aren’t we friends? I can’t let you walk back alone this late at night. Since we’re friends, why are you being so formal?"
’Friends or not... still...’
Xu Su pulled her arm free. "Okay then, go get your bike. I’ll wait for you here."
Xi Zirong’s expression relaxed. As if afraid she would run off, he handed her the book bag. "Hold this for me. I’m going to get my bike."
Holding the heavy bag of books and watching the boy’s back as he practically jogged away...
Xu Su: "..."
’He took off so quickly, I didn’t even get a chance to tell him he could have just taken those books home with him.’
Xu Su didn’t have a watch, so she couldn’t tell the exact time, but she estimated it was less than ten minutes before Xi Zirong reappeared in front of her on his bicycle.
With one foot planted on the ground for balance, he reached out. "Are the books heavy? I’ll put them up front."
Xu Su glanced at the shallow basket on the front of the bike and shook her head. "I’ll hold on to them. You can put them in the basket on your way back."
Out of curiosity, she had just glanced at the books he’d bought...
...All she could say was they were on subjects she had never touched.
Xu Su sat sidesaddle on the rear rack, gripping a corner of Xi Zirong’s jacket. She felt a bit embarrassed. "Am I very heavy?"
’Come to think of it, in both my past life and this one, this is the first time I’ve ever ridden on the back of a boy’s bike.’
Xi Zirong rode very steadily, the wheels turning at a leisurely pace. Hearing her voice, a smile spread across his face. He didn’t bother to hide it, knowing she couldn’t see. "Not heavy at all," he said, still smiling. "Xu Su, I remember you said your grandfather’s house is on Xia Sheng Road. Will you be coming back here tomorrow?"
Xu Su replied, "Yes, tomorrow is the first day of the new year. For the next few days, my whole family is gathering at my grandfather’s house."
Xi Zirong was a sharp guy; he immediately understood what it meant for her to be waiting for a bus alone this late at night.
His smile slowly faded, replaced by a pang of sympathy.
After a moment of silence, Xi Zirong asked, "So you’re staying at your place all by yourself? Aren’t you scared?"
’To be honest, it would be a lie to say I’m not scared.’
’All told, I haven’t even spent a full half-month in the new apartment. During the school year, I’m always out early and back late. I’m never there for more than seven hours a day, and most of that time I’m asleep.’
’It still feels so unfamiliar.’
’And now I suddenly have to spend a night there all by myself...’
"What’s there to be scared of?" Xu Su said. "Do you think I’m a little kid?"
As the bike passed a milk tea shop, Xi Zirong glanced back and murmured, "Are you cold? Wait here a moment."
"..." Xu Su tugged on his jacket. "Let me treat you. I’m already troubling you by having you take me home."
He gently pulled her toward the entrance. "Then let’s go in together. But you treated me to a meal last time, so it’s my turn now. Xu Su, don’t try to fight me on this."
’I guess no matter how old they get, guys are always particular about who pays.’
’Especially in front of a girl they like.’
Cradling a cup of hot cocoa, Xu Su watched the boy in front of her pull out his wallet and thought to herself...
Since it was inconvenient to ride a bike while holding a hot drink, the two of them simply sat down across from each other in the milk tea shop.
Despite it being New Year’s Eve, the shop was bustling, mostly with couples sitting together.
"..." Xu Su felt a bit awkward. She lowered her head to take a sip of her hot cocoa and burned her tongue, almost dropping the cup.
