Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It

Chapter 266: "...An Exaggeration... A Gross Exaggeration...

"Sure, why not." Shen Chen nodded along, extending the peeled apple toward her. "Xu, search your conscience. Haven’t I been generous enough to you? I came all this way to bring you a gift, and now I’m peeling fruit for you. You think just anyone gets this kind of treatment?"

There was a hint of resignation in his tone, which made Xu Su’s heart skip a beat.

She looked down at the offered apple. Just as she was about to take it, a thought made her stop. She pointed to the corner of her mouth. "My mouth is injured. I can’t open it wide enough to bite."

Xu Weiping hadn’t held back with that slap at all. It had even left a few small cuts inside her mouth. Her lips, in particular, were so sore she didn’t dare open her mouth too wide for fear of tearing the wound.

Shen Chen froze. He leaned in closer, his smile vanishing as he stared at the faint palm print on her face. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

After a long, silent moment that was starting to feel awkward for Xu Su, he finally curled his lip into a smile. He waved the apple in his hand and asked, "So, can you still eat fruit? If you want some, I can cut it into small pieces for you."

Xu Su actually wanted to refuse. But then she thought, ’This might be the first time Young Master Shen has ever peeled fruit for someone.’ She couldn’t just completely embarrass him. So, she reluctantly nodded. "Just a piece for me, then. Cut it small."

Shen Chen used the fruit knife to cut off a small piece. Xu Su searched the bedside table but couldn’t find a toothpick. She was about to pick it up with her fingers, but he pulled it away. Spearing the piece with the tip of the knife, he brought it to her lips. "You haven’t washed your hands, and hospitals are full of germs. Just eat it like this. Be careful not to hurt yourself again."

"..." Xu Su hesitated for a moment before carefully opening her mouth and eating it.

"Want more?"

Xu Su quickly shook her head. "No more."

’This is way too awkward.’ Besides, the cuts in her mouth still hurt.

Shen Chen nodded, set the fruit knife aside, and took a loud CRUNCH out of the apple himself. He asked casually, "Injured this badly... you must have cried your eyes out, huh?"

"I didn’t cry. What’s there to cry about? I’m not a crybaby."

"Is that so?" Shen Chen raised an eyebrow. "Then I must be misremembering. I wonder who it was that cried so hard in my car their makeup was ruined, with no regard for their image whatsoever. It certainly couldn’t have been our dear Xu, right?"

Remembering that incident from summer vacation, Xu Su glared at him. She couldn’t believe he had the nerve to bring it up! ’Doesn’t he have any clue why I was crying?’

Just as she was debating whether or not to verbally tear him a new one, Zhou Mochen pushed the door open and returned.

He wasn’t surprised to see Shen Chen, an obvious sign he had already known he was there.

Zhou Mochen walked straight to Xu Su’s bedside. He reached out to feel her forehead, then pressed his own against it. After confirming her temperature hadn’t risen again, he smiled. "My aunt heard you were sick and wants to see you. She’s right outside the door. Do you want to see her?"

Xu Su froze, her pupils dilating in shock. "You just left your aunt at the door? ...Wait, that’s not right. Why did you tell them I was sick in the first place?"

Zhou Mochen wasn’t particularly close with his mother’s side of the family. After all, the Zhou family was in Beijing, while the Li Family was in Chang City. They had probably only met a handful of times growing up. In her past life, Xu Su had only seen Zhou Mochen’s maternal relatives once, at their wedding.

Judging by the Li Family’s standing, their textile factory, though a large enterprise with tens of thousands of employees and somewhat reputable in Chang City, was nothing special in Beijing. It was unlikely they had much business or personal interaction with the Zhou family of Beijing.

"I left in the middle of lunch yesterday and didn’t go over today, so they were bound to ask a few questions." Zhou Mochen explained softly as he pulled out his phone. "If you don’t want to see them, I’ll have someone send them away. Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal."

Xu Su quickly stopped him. "Don’t! They’re already here. It would be rude to turn them away now. They’re your relatives. Hurry up and let them in."

She understood now. Yesterday was New Year’s Eve, and today was New Year’s Day. The grandson who was supposed to be celebrating with them had been absent. Of course, they would be concerned.

"Okay." Zhou Mochen nodded, then looked at Shen Chen. "My uncle’s two daughters are here, too."

"Tsk..." Shen Chen, who had been listening to them nonchalantly, clicked his tongue. His expression was complicated. "Last time, I shouldn’t have been nice to them just because they’re your cousins."

Remembering the days of being harassed by calls from unknown numbers, Shen Chen quickly stood up and moved to the sofa. "Let me be clear. If she dares to cross the line and get close again this time, don’t blame me for not being a gentleman."

No matter how close they were as brothers, Shen Chen had no intention of selling himself out for his friend’s cousins.

Zhou Mochen shot him a disdainful look and made a call.

A moment later, there was a knock. A bodyguard pushed the door open from the outside, and three people walked in. The spacious, somewhat empty hospital room instantly became lively.

The middle-aged woman in the lead was carrying bags full of gifts. After casually handing them to the bodyguard behind her, she eagerly rushed to the bedside.

When Zhou Mochen’s aunt saw Xu Su sitting on the hospital bed, she seemed taken aback for a second. She quickly recovered, warmly grasping Xu Su’s hand with a benevolent smile. "So this must be my dear nephew’s girlfriend! Just look at you, so lovely. I can’t believe we have such a beautiful young lady right here in Chang City."

"I heard you’re still in high school. Which school do you attend?" She was extremely enthusiastic, rambling on before asking, "Oh, right, dear, what’s your name?"

"..." Xu Su felt a bit awkward and tried to pull her hand back. Looking at this woman who was practically radiating sycophancy, she thought, ’I never expected Zhou Mochen’s aunt to be this type of person.’ She forced a smile and replied, "My name is Xu Su. I go to City No.1 High School."

"What a lovely name. My youngest daughter is also in high school, though she attends Yingcai Middle School. Her name is Li Xin, and she’s a junior." The woman patted the back of Xu Su’s hand and smilingly called to her daughter behind her. "Xinxin, come and meet your cousin’s girlfriend. She’s a high school student just like you. Do you know her?"

Behind her stood a very pretty and charming girl in a red coat. She stared at Xu Su with wide eyes. "Your name is Xu Su, and you go to City No.1 High School?"

Xu Su nodded.

"I’ve heard that name! Xu Su, the school belle of First High School, right? The rumors about you are the stuff of legends. They say you’re breathtakingly beautiful and that every guy at First High School has a crush on you." Li Xin looked extremely excited. "You’re this gorgeous, so the school belle couldn’t possibly be anyone else, right?"

"...That’s an exaggeration. A huge exaggeration..."

Xu Su was a little stunned. ’Every guy in the whole school has a crush on me...?’ She secretly glanced at her boyfriend. Zhou Mochen’s face was expressionless, but she could just tell he was in a bad mood.

Seeing Xu Su confirm her identity, Li Xin asked with a look of confusion, "But isn’t your boyfriend God Xi? The news that you two were dating spread through every high school in Chang City. How did you end up with my cousin?"