Chapter Fourteen: The Rebirth Buff

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Xia Wei expressionlessly dragged Zhou Ziyang to the rooftop. Zhou Ziyang shook off her hand and asked what she wanted. Seeing Zhou Ziyang’s impatient demeanor, Xia Wei felt a deep frustration, as if he were wasting his potential. She asked, “I want to know, where have you been these past few days instead of attending class?”

“Is that any of your business?” Zhou Ziyang replied sharply.

Hearing this, Xia Wei was truly angry. “How is it not my business? Your father is my stepfather! I’m two months older than you; technically, I should be your sister!”

In the past, Xia Wei would never have acknowledged such a relationship. But a few days ago, Zhou Ziyang had insisted he wanted to marry her and take her home as his wife. Compared to being his wife, it was better to confirm the sibling relationship.

Zhou Ziyang sneered coldly. “Stop joking. I’m registered under my mother’s household. There’s no real blood relation between us.”

“Or maybe,”

At this, Zhou Ziyang suddenly looked at Xia Wei with a spark of interest in his eyes. The gaze made her heart flutter inexplicably. She tried to back away, but it was too late.

On the rooftop of the teaching building, there was a small room by the stairwell. In a blink, Zhou Ziyang pushed Xia Wei against the wall.

“Ugh!”

Zhou Ziyang was about a head taller than Xia Wei. Their eyes met, and Xia Wei suddenly felt a flush rise to her cheeks. She turned her head away, unwilling to look at him.

But Zhou Ziyang reached out and tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

One had to admit, this temporary elder sister might have a bad temper, but she was undeniably beautiful. Years later, her flawless face would be framed by large wavy hair and rimless glasses, radiating an aloof sense of superiority.

With her chin lifted, despite being not yet eighteen, she already bore the contours of a cold beauty.

Zhou Ziyang casually studied her and said, “Or maybe you just like playing this older sister-younger brother game? Hmm? My dear sister.”

“You’re... talking nonsense...” Xia Wei stammered.

Zhou Ziyang leaned close and whispered into her ear, exhaling a warm breath that sent a strange sensation coursing through Xia Wei’s body. She suddenly felt weak all over.

Why was it so strange?

Zhou Ziyang was a normal man approaching thirty. It was unrealistic to think he’d never had a girlfriend. He was quite handsome. In high school, academic and family pressures kept him from dating, but in college, it was impossible he hadn’t had any romantic relationships, whether with senior female students, juniors, or even slightly older mentors.

So Zhou Ziyang understood women fairly well. Dealing with an inexperienced girl like Xia Wei was far too easy.

Xia Wei’s body went limp, and Zhou Ziyang took the opportunity to grasp her slender waist firmly. His hands were strong and steady, supporting her in a way that gave Xia Wei a sense of security she had never felt before.

Her face, bathed in the sunset’s glow, was vividly flushed.

Zhou Ziyang knew exactly why but said nothing, simply teasing her, “Looks like you really do enjoy this kind of play, huh? But we’re not siblings.”

“If we really were,”

“How could I like you?”

His words, hot and close, whispered into Xia Wei’s ear, filled with tender provocations.

Under her skirt, her beautiful legs trembled slightly, and she instinctively pressed them together.

Her resistance was weakening.

“No, don’t talk nonsense,” she said breathlessly. “I—I could never like you. We—we can’t.”

“Really? But you look like you’re enjoying this. Are you sure you don’t like me?”

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Zhou Ziyang read Xia Wei’s state all too well. One by one, he peeled back her mental defenses.

“Or maybe you already like me but won’t admit it because of our relationship?”

“Look, I haven’t bothered you these days.”

“But you came looking for me.”

“Deep down, you wish I’d treat you this way, don’t you?”

His words, like a spell, captivated her. Xia Wei was startled by her own reaction.

“You’re talking nonsense! I just don’t want to see you fall any further!”

“After all, you’re still my uncle’s son!”

“The college entrance exam is coming! You skip classes every day—what are you going to do during the exam?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to get into college to make my uncle look at you differently?”

“Where’s your pride?”

“If you don’t study, you’ll still have to rely on my uncle later!”

Perhaps Zhou Ziyang’s words were too harsh, for Xia Wei suddenly struggled fiercely, summoning strength from nowhere to shove him away.

Of course, with her strength, she couldn’t really push him off. But her words had clearly irked Zhou Ziyang, and he lost interest in playing childish games.

Finally breaking free, Xia Wei breathed a sigh of relief—and then noticed his face had darkened. She inwardly panicked, thinking she might have said something excessive. Would he hate her now?

Seeing Zhou Ziyang remain silent, she anxiously tried to explain, “I’m really not—”

“To be honest, you’re just afraid I’ll use my dad’s influence to block your path,” Zhou Ziyang interrupted.

Xia Wei froze.

Zhou Ziyang said, “I was foolish to feel happy, thinking you cared about me.”

“Actually, you’re only thinking about yourself.”

“I’m not—”

“Enough. Don’t say any more,” Zhou Ziyang cut her off coldly. “Even if I can’t get into college, I won’t use his connections. You’re so devoted to him; just be his good daughter.”

At this moment, the class bell rang. Even if Zhou Ziyang wanted to leave, he couldn’t.

He shot Xia Wei a displeased glance and turned away.

Xia Wei felt deeply wronged and hurried after him to explain, but Zhou Ziyang left quickly, leaving her alone.

She didn’t know why, but originally, her purpose in coming to him was to prevent him from causing trouble for Zhou Guowei or getting him involved at school.

But when Zhou Ziyang pierced through her selfish motives, Xia Wei felt a vague emptiness. She thought she wasn’t that bad.

Yet if it wasn’t for that reason, then why?

Recalling how Zhou Ziyang had held her chin so close to his face, her cheeks flushed again.

The homeroom teacher lingered in the classroom during recess, noticing the empty seats where Zhou Ziyang and Xia Wei usually sat. Curious, he asked the students, but none spoke up.

Just before class began, Zhou Ziyang and Xia Wei entered, walking one after the other.

Zhou Ziyang led, looking honest and open, while Xia Wei lowered her head, her fair cheeks flushed to the ear lobes.

The moment they entered—

“Oh~ Hey~”

The classmates suddenly erupted into teasing.

It was true that the college entrance exam was near, but the pressure made everyone feel even more constrained.

Zhou Ziyang and Xia Wei—

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One was a usually reserved but well-liked boy.

The other was a top student, a beautiful girl envied by many.

The two were rumored to be sweethearts.

It was almost unimaginable.

“Quiet down!”

Their teasing was abruptly silenced by the homeroom teacher’s stern glare.

The teacher scolded, “What time is this? How old are you all? Still making a fuss when a boy and girl walk in? Are you children?”

The students sheepishly smiled and focused back on their papers.

The teacher glanced back at Zhou Ziyang and Xia Wei.

Zhou Ziyang lowered his head, pretending to concentrate on his test, though the paper was turned upside down.

As for Xia Wei, blushing even more under the classmates’ teasing.

Xia Wei was a good student, so the teacher left her alone.

But Zhou Ziyang’s recent attitude was troubling.

“Zhou Ziyang, step outside with me,” the teacher said coldly.

As Zhou Ziyang followed him out, whispers erupted among the students, thinking he was in trouble—the teacher was known for cracking down hard on early romances.

The homeroom teacher knew about Zhou Ziyang and Xia Wei’s relationship. Honestly, when reviewing their family records, the teacher had been surprised by the parents’ names. Without a call from Zhou Ziyang’s father, he might have thought it was just a coincidence.

So the teacher didn’t mind about the early romance.

He cared more about Zhou Ziyang’s recent lack of focus.

With the college entrance exam approaching, this attitude wouldn’t do.

His mother had high hopes for him.

Though with his grades, getting into a top university was unlikely, aiming for second-tier schools was still possible.

University might not guarantee success, but it would broaden his horizons.

Approaching the exam, the teacher stopped wasting words and patted Zhou Ziyang’s shoulder.

“Ziyang, I’ve been with you for three years. I know your family’s not easy. But no matter how hard it’s been, three years have passed. Why give up now?”

“You still have to go to college.”

“I have nothing more to say. You can go back.”

The teacher didn’t mention Zhou Ziyang’s relationship with Xia Wei. Anyone with a shred of compassion would sympathize with Zhou Ziyang’s family situation.

With less than two months until the exam, any further lecturing would be mere formality.

Three years of teacher-student bonds meant the teacher could only urge Zhou Ziyang to give it his all. Even if he couldn’t get into a top school, attending university would still broaden his experience.

After leaving the office, Zhou Ziyang’s feelings were complicated.

Had the teacher just scolded him in anger, he might have felt nothing.

But the silence seemed to say everything.

Back in the classroom, the English teacher watched students work on their test papers.

They say the greatest sadness is a broken heart.

Zhou Ziyang’s original plan was simple: making money came first. College was optional; if a school accepted him, he’d go; if not, he wouldn’t.

But after the teacher’s words, he thought maybe he should try a little harder.

Sigh, it had to be this way.

The problem was, nearly ten years had passed—who still remembered high school knowledge?

Reluctantly, Zhou Ziyang lowered his head and began attempting the test.

At first glance at the paper, he was stunned.

All the questions were familiar?