Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 112: Don’t Trample on My True Heart...

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Don’t Trample on My True Heart...

Xu Su pulled her hand back. This time, she managed to pull it away with surprising ease. She looked up in astonishment, her gaze meeting the lingering tenderness in Zhou Mochen’s eyes.

"..." Xu Su was silent for a moment before speaking. "Just act normal, Zhou Mochen. Like just now—if I don’t want you to hold my hand, then don’t force me."

What did Xu Su hate most about Zhou Mochen?

It was the fact that he never cared about her feelings. He was always talking about how he liked her, how he loved her, but his love came with no respect, no freedom. There was only suffocating oppression and confinement.

Perhaps it was because their relationship in her past life had begun with a sort of ’coercion,’ which caused it to become more and more twisted.

Xu Su grew increasingly sensitive, caring more and more about equality and respect, while Zhou Mochen became more and more insecure. He always felt that if he loosened his grip even slightly, she would run off and disappear without a trace.

This was the first time in a long while that the young woman had spoken to him so calmly. Zhou Mochen felt his heart soften, willing to agree to anything.

He smiled, a hint of compromise in his tone. "Okay, I won’t force you. But Susu, have some pity on me, too. Don’t suddenly give me the cold shoulder again. My heart has been in knots every day for the past month. I really don’t know what to do with you."

From Zhou Mochen’s perspective, Xu Su had indeed turned on him out of the blue.

The atmosphere between them had been getting better and better during their last meeting over summer break. But when she came out from school again after returning, she was like a different person.

He would never know that most of the time when Xu Su was at school, just a few extra text messages from him were enough to make her feel oppressed and irritable.

Sometimes, the tone of a few words in his texts, if he wasn’t careful, would take on a dictatorial air, causing Xu Su to recall bad memories.

The memories of her past life served as a stark reminder of his true nature. Every time the atmosphere between them eased up, a single careless word or action from him could make Xu Su’s expression change in an instant.

Even though Zhou Mochen believed he was being completely obedient and respectful toward the girl he liked, Xu Su could always find fault.

Their memories were unequal. That was just how it was.

There were too many scores that couldn’t be settled.

The Zhou Mochen who had been entangled with her for over a decade was not here.

Xu Su got into the car without a word. Zhou Mochen followed right after.

After the car started, Zhou Mochen tried to find a topic of conversation. He asked, "Are the results for the semifinals out? How did you do?"

Xu Su didn’t feel like talking. She hummed softly and said simply, "I didn’t pass. Don’t ask."

Shot down, Zhou Mochen fell silent for a second but didn’t seem to mind. He pressed on, undeterred, "Come have a meal with me. I’ve recently learned how to eat spicy food. What do you say?"

Xu Su remained silent, resolved not to say anything more.

Zhou Mochen tried to persuade her again. "I didn’t eat this morning, and it’s lunchtime now. Just keep me company, okay?"

"You didn’t call home, so if you go back unexpectedly, your mom might not have made enough food for you. Be good. I’ll take you out for something delicious, hm?"

He kept rambling on beside her. Xu Su finally couldn’t take it anymore and snapped, "Can you please be quiet? It’s a safety hazard to be distracted while driving."

Being snapped at by her actually made Zhou Mochen happy. He steered with one hand and quickly reached over with the other, grabbing the hand Xu Su had resting on her lap and giving it a gentle squeeze.

He sighed. "It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, Susu. Please, have a meal with me. Otherwise, it’ll be too hard for me to last another month without seeing you."

To anyone else, it might have sounded like a simple complaint, but Xu Su could hear the threat hidden within his words.

She had a feeling Zhou Mochen meant that if she didn’t eat with him today, he wouldn’t just wait quietly outside the school like before. With his influence, it would be all too easy for him to reach into City No.1 High School.

’If he wanted to, I’d probably start seeing him at school every day...’

Xu Su knew this stress response of hers wasn’t healthy. ’Maybe I’m overthinking it.’ She forced herself to suppress her temper and turned her head to look at Zhou Mochen.

She hadn’t gotten a proper look at him earlier. Now that she did, she realized he might not have been lying when he said his heart had been in knots for a month.

He was clearly thinner than the last time they’d met. Because of his fair skin, you could even see the faint bluish tint under his eyes from his side profile.

They happened to be at a red light. After stopping the car, Zhou Mochen turned his head to look at her, his eyes meeting hers. His face was mostly expressionless as he just watched her.

After watching for a moment, he couldn’t help but tighten his grip on her hand slightly, then let out a soft chuckle.

Zhou Mochen said, "Xu Su, I’ve missed you so much."

"..." Xu Su’s lips twitched, but she didn’t answer.

She tried to pull her hand away, and unexpectedly, it took almost no effort at all.

’If this were before, how hard would it have been to pull my hand away?’

’Does he really intend to change his previously aggressive attitude?’

’Did he actually listen to what I said? Is he seriously trying to change?’

After the light turned green, Zhou Mochen started driving again while talking to her. "I’ll change anything you don’t like, Xu Su. Just don’t ignore me, okay?"

’Compared to our last meeting, he really does seem like a different person this time...’

’If Zhou Mochen can really tolerate being rejected, if he can respect my wishes, then does that mean I...?’

Xu Su mulled it over for a moment before finally speaking, her tone tentative. "Can you change how aggressive you are? Can you stop threatening me at the drop of a hat? Can you give me absolute freedom of choice? It can’t be that just because you like me, I have to like you back. Zhou Mochen, I hate the feeling of being forced to choose."

Xu Su was truly afraid of this madman. She had realized she liked Xi Zirong, but because of Zhou Mochen’s presence, she didn’t dare accept it, or even admit that she liked him back.

’If Zhou Mochen found out about Xi Zirong, what would he do?’

’If he could calmly accept that I like someone else, he wouldn’t be Zhou Mochen.’

’When the time comes, could Xi Zirong really stand up to him?’

’I wonder what Xi Zirong’s family does...’

Xu Su’s thoughts were in turmoil. The more she thought about it, the more miserable she felt.

Other girls her age could be in a relationship as long as the feelings were mutual.

But just because she had caught Zhou Mochen’s eye, she had to be overly cautious about wanting a simple high school romance with Xi Zirong, the boy she liked.

She was truly afraid of Zhou Mochen losing control...

The heated car fell silent after Xu Su spoke. Soon, Zhou Mochen steered the car to the side of the road and stopped.

He turned his head to look at her again. His expression was a bit grim, but his voice was still remarkably calm.

"If that’s what you’re asking, I’ll do my best to achieve it. I’ll do anything you want. But Xu Su, you need to understand one thing first. Don’t trample on my heart."

As he said this, his eyes even revealed something akin to vulnerability. He had practically offered his entire heart to her, unguarded, for her to mold and shape as she pleased.

So, couldn’t she be a little kinder to it?

’It’s hard to get used to someone who’s always so aggressive suddenly showing weakness.’

’Don’t trample on my heart...’

Xu Su felt a lump lodge in her throat, making it hard to breathe.