Chapter 82: Blame It on My Youth

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Blame It on My Youth

Nan Zhi and Lu Shixu’s relationship wasn’t some grand, earth-shattering epic. It was just an ordinary story.

That year, Nan Zhi was twenty years old, a student at the nation’s top institution, Yan University.

Although her childhood experiences had made her sharper and more perceptive than her peers,

in front of a truly calculating person, she was still an open book.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have so easily fallen for Lu Shixu’s bullshit, actually believing their meeting in the library was a coincidence.

At the time, she was just excited to have met a like-minded friend with whom she could talk about anything and everything.

They talked and shared constantly.

So much so that Lu Shixu came to occupy all of her time and energy.

By the time Nan Zhi came to her senses, she, who had once been quite popular, found that Lu Shixu was the only friend she had left.

Later, this one and only friend naturally progressed into her official boyfriend.

Nan Zhi didn’t think anything was wrong.

She was immersed in the sweetness of the romance.

But she was completely oblivious to how Lu Shixu’s possessiveness was growing wildly, like vines, like shadows, like a great net, silently creeping into every nook and cranny of her life.

Things like him secretly warning off an underclassman who tried to chat her up were considered minor.

The most outrageous incident was when Nan Zhi wanted to take a part-time job at an upperclassman’s milk tea shop.

Lu Shixu disapproved, but Nan Zhi insisted on going.

She didn’t change her mind, even when he started sulking and giving her the silent treatment.

Nan Zhi knew that, although Lu Shixu never mentioned it, he must have come from a wealthy family.

His clothes had no logos, but the craftsmanship and fabric were top-tier.

The car he rode in was just a low-key Volkswagen, yet it came with a dedicated driver.

An inconspicuous watch he wore was a global limited edition from a top-tier brand her male classmates often talked about.

...

There were countless other things just like that.

So she didn’t force Lu Shixu to understand her world.

But what she never expected was that Lu Shixu would drive her upperclassman’s milk tea shop out of business over it!

This was the first time Nan Zhi came face-to-face with Lu Shixu’s cold and cruel side.

She was devastated and blew up at Lu Shixu.

Lu Shixu didn’t explain himself; he just admitted he was wrong.

Although they reconciled soon after, the underlying issue remained, never truly resolved.

So, when Nan Zhi found out that Lu Shixu wasn’t a student at her university at all, but an honorary professor invited from overseas—a man with enough academic accolades to crush someone...

a true chill went through her heart.

What angered Nan Zhi wasn’t just Lu Shixu’s deception.

It was also how, not long before, when they were discussing their futures after graduation, Nan Zhi had enthusiastically planned their job hunts, marriage, buying a house, and so on, while Lu Shixu remained silent the entire time.

It was only then that Nan Zhi understood: Lu Shixu had never considered a future with her.

She felt like a clown, making a complete fool of herself on the stage of lies he had constructed.

She was tired.

In the end, she was the one to say they should break up.

It was the first time either of them had suggested breaking up in their two years together.

Lu Shixu was both shocked and furious, his emotional turmoil far greater than anything Nan Zhi had ever seen from him.

And when she saw it, she felt an unexpected thrill of revenge.

Then her grandfather fell gravely ill, and she left in a hurry.

Then she fainted at the funeral and discovered she was pregnant...

The successive blows brought her to the brink of collapse, forcing her to swallow her pride and ask Lu Shixu for help.

But his number was disconnected, and he had vanished as if into thin air.

「From then on.」

To Nan Zhi, Lu Shixu was nothing more than an ex-boyfriend.

...

Thinking back on it now, Nan Zhi realized she wasn’t entirely blameless for how disastrously the relationship had ended.

Her experience of being abandoned in childhood had instilled a wary and suspicious side to her personality.

That was why she was unwilling to talk about her past and refused to give her whole heart.

Even in their sweetest moments, she deliberately maintained an intimate distance.

When Lu Shixu tried to make her life easier, she felt her pride was stung.

Beneath that gentle exterior was a soul more stubborn than anyone’s.

Just like a hedgehog—

the moment someone got close, it would eagerly raise its quills in defense.

Only after facing life and death did Nan Zhi realize how childish her thinking had been back then.

’But what could be done about it now?’

’What’s past is past.’

-

Nan Zhi could switch gears quickly.

When she woke up the next day, she had already forgotten yesterday’s little incident. Her mind was filled with the two words: "Open shop."

Nan Yi was still sound asleep.

Nan Zhi didn’t have time to be gentle, scooping him right out of his blankets.

"Hurry, it’s almost time for our appointment."

Yesterday, they had agreed to meet at her shop at 6:00 AM.

It was already 5:50.

Nan Yi kicked his little legs a couple of times and mumbled a few words before managing to pry his eyes open.

"Are you tired?"

Nan Zhi’s heart ached for him a little.

Nan Yi perked up instantly:

"Not tired!"

Then his little legs gave way, and he nearly stumbled.

Nan Yi quickly regained his balance and pretended nothing had happened, washing up with swift, forceful movements.

Anyone watching would have thought he had a grudge against his toothbrush.

Nan Zhi warned, "Be careful, you’ll make your gums bleed."

Nan Yi let out a muffled "Mmm-hmm!"

He spat out a mouthful of toothpaste foam, but his hands obediently relaxed their grip.

Nan Zhi wasn’t idle either. She quickly rinsed her face with water and gave her messy bed-hair a couple of strokes with a comb.

’Done!’

[Who else would drag themselves out of bed this early to watch a livestream?]

[I’m here too, sis.]

[I’m different, I just didn’t sleep at all!]

[Nan Zhi’s skin is so good it’s making me jealous! She’s a natural beauty!]

[Hey, you know what, Nan Zhi actually looks a lot prettier than she did in the first episode!]

[I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I sent a comment about it yesterday and no one responded...]

[Everyone was just watching the drama, nobody was paying attention to the details.]

...

On camera, the change in Nan Zhi wasn’t that obvious.

But in real life, the change was enormous to the naked eye!

When Nan Zhi came downstairs to open the door at 5:59, a ray of dawn light fell just so...

In that instant, her entire being seemed to glow!

Standing outside the shop, Fu Chao and Xie Yu were momentarily dazzled.

Xie Yu was slightly taken aback.

After a brief trance, Fu Chao came to his senses:

"I can’t believe I didn’t notice yesterday. You’re looking really well!"

Yesterday she was wearing makeup; today she was bare-faced.

The difference was immediately apparent.

Nan Zhi explained casually:

"I’ve been focusing on my health recently. It seems to be working."

That really opened Fu Chao’s floodgates!

He started nagging like a doting father:

"That’s the way! A healthy body is the foundation of everything! You were too thin before, your cheeks were all hollowed out. You look so much better now..."

Qing Xi unceremoniously pushed Fu Chao aside:

"Uncle, you talk so much!"

Then, calling over a yawning Xie An’an, she ran cheerfully toward Nan Yi, who was just coming down the stairs.

"Yiyi, did you sleep in the attic yesterday? I’m so jealous! I want to sleep here too!"

"Brother Yiyi, can you see the stars at night if you look up? Are they pretty?"

The two children surrounded Nan Yi with their chattering voices.

As for Nan Yi, his sleepiness vanished completely, and he proudly lifted his little head.