[Absolute Heartthrob] Chapter 2

The acceptance letter was just two light sheets of paper, yet when it hit Jiang Chizhou’s face, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

From childhood to now, his biggest regret was going out at nine years old without any money and spilling Yan Xi’s Yakult.

Since then, he gained an enemy—a very special one. One he couldn’t hit, scold, or get rid of!

Just like now…

Before Jiang Chizhou could react, he grabbed the acceptance letter, only to hear the girl in front of him dramatically exclaim, “No way, no way, could Zhou Zhou really be so ashamed that he’d destroy my acceptance letter?”

Destroying the letter would be childish. Jiang Chizhou pulled her hand away, gritting his teeth, “Don’t call me that name.”

“Don’t call you what?” Yan Xi blinked innocently, cupping her face with her hands and dragging out the syllables, “Zhou~ Zhou~.”

This moment felt eerily similar to a year ago when Jiang Chizhou had waved his acceptance letter in her face, flaunting it and arrogantly drinking two bottles of Yakult right in front of her.

Only this time, a year later, the roles were reversed.

I love seeing you annoyed but unable to do anything about it.

After receiving her acceptance letter to the top high school in the city, Yan Xi’s parents rewarded her with 2,000 yuan in spending money and a new phone. She couldn’t have been happier.

She cheerfully arranged to go shopping with her friends and treated herself to two new dresses. When she returned to her neighborhood, she detoured slightly and went to the nearby supermarket.

The small convenience store from back then had since been upgraded into a small supermarket, offering a wider variety of goods, but Yan Xi remained loyal to her beloved Yakult.

As she queued up to pay, someone accidentally bumped her shoulder. She instinctively turned, only to see a middle-aged woman quietly apologizing.

Since it was just a light bump, Yan Xi didn’t mind and responded politely, “It’s okay.”

As her gaze shifted, she spotted a familiar figure. A boy carrying a carton of milk was leaving through the other door of the supermarket.

Even though she couldn’t see his face, she knew it was Jiang Chizhou. After all, you can’t underestimate the bond of long-time enemies.

Blocked by the people behind her in line, Jiang Chizhou didn’t notice her.

“Miss, it’s your turn to pay.”

Snapped back to reality by the cashier, Yan Xi quickly placed her Yakult on the counter, paid, and walked out.

By chance, she exited through the door just as Jiang Chizhou was coming around from the other side, and they ran straight into each other.

When their eyes met, it felt like sparks were flying in the air. Neither spoke, both choosing to walk forward in silence.

Yan Xi quickened her pace to get ahead of him, but with his longer legs, Jiang Chizhou soon overtook her.

By the time they reached the entrance of their neighborhood, the two were in a full-on race, eventually ending up walking side by side.

Jiang Chizhou had always been taller than kids his age, and Yan Xi had developed well. Judging by their height alone, it was hard to tell they were still students.

An elderly woman passing by with a cane rubbed her tired eyes and kindly remarked, “Such a lovely couple, they look so well-matched.”

Couple!!!

Those three ear-piercing words exploded in their ears, and they immediately stepped apart, keeping a good two meters between them.

Just as they were about to enter the building, a familiar voice called out, “Xi Xi.”

Yan Xi turned to see her mother, Zhao Qiujing, walking arm in arm with another elegant woman.

The other woman wasn’t idle either, calling out to the boy beside her, “Zhou Zhou.”

Yan Xi stifled a laugh.

“Zhou Zhou” was Jiang Chizhou’s mother’s pet name for him. It was cute when he was little, but as he grew up, he began to resent it for not being manly enough.

Seeing the two children standing together, Zhao Qiujing casually asked, “Did you two go shopping together?”

In unison, they both replied, “No.”

“We were just talking about the two of you earlier,” the women continued. “Now that Xi Xi and Zhou Zhou will be in the same school, they can look out for each other.”

The two mothers sang in harmony, oblivious to the mutual dislike on the kids’ faces.

As they headed upstairs, Zhao Qiujing suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, did you go to the bookstore the other day to check if they had any high school textbooks for review?”

The bookstores near the school always bought back core subject books at a discount around graduation season. Since the top high school was competitive, it wasn’t unusual for parents to want their children to prepare early.

But this was definitely not something any kid wanted to hear.

“Mom, I can study after I start high school.” Yan Xi clutched her Yakult tightly, stepping back as if to resist a little more.

Suddenly, Jiang Chizhou smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. But when addressing the adults, his voice was warm and polite, “Aunt Zhao, there’s no need to go to the bookstore. I have all my first-year books at home. I can lend them to Yan Xi.”

Yan Xi: ????

“Thank you, such a good kid!” Without waiting for her daughter’s response, Zhao Qiujing beamed and showered Jiang Chizhou with praise.

“No need to thank me, Aunt Zhao. Yan Xi and I have known each other for years. This is nothing. I also have a stack of first-year study materials I no longer need, and they might be helpful for her.” His considerate attitude won over the adults, leaving no room for refusal.

Yan Xi gave him a forced smile, her teeth grinding audibly.

Fine! She’d remember this.

In August, Yan Xi received insider information that the school beauty had arranged to confess to Jiang Chizhou at the park.

She put down her phone, changed into a light floral tank top that showed off her waist, and paired it with denim shorts that highlighted her long, slender legs, pale and smooth.

Admiring herself in the full-length mirror, Yan Xi touched her chin and nodded in satisfaction.

As she opened the door, her pet dog rushed in, wagging its tail excitedly. Yan Xi clipped on the leash and called out, “Mom, I’m taking Bian Bian for a walk.”

Bian Bian, a border collie, had been bought years ago when Yan Xi first vowed to marry Jiang Chizhou. The reason was simple—Bian Bian was great at scaring strangers away.

Following the directions her “informant” had given her, Yan Xi strolled around with Bian Bian and soon spotted Jiang Chizhou.

By the picturesque Greenwater Lake, with its rippling waves, a young man and woman stood beneath a tree, gazing at each other.

Yan Xi found the perfect vantage point and patted Bian Bian’s head. “If we pull this off, you’ll get a special treat tonight.”

The school beauty had clearly dressed up for the occasion, wearing a white dress that boys liked. Even though it was hot, she let her long hair cascade down her back, but the strands clung to her neck, damp with sweat.

Nervously, she hadn’t even said a few words to Jiang Chizhou before a dog suddenly appeared, scaring her so much that she shrieked and jumped back three meters.

The school beauty was afraid of dogs, and this one kept circling around Jiang Chizhou, making it impossible for her to get close.

“Yes!” Yan Xi cheered from behind the tree, jumping up and pumping her fist in celebration. “You messed with my summer, I’ll ruin your love life. Fair enough.”

She was laughing so hard behind the tree that she didn’t notice Jiang Chizhou had vanished from sight.

Peeking out to look for him, she was suddenly yanked backward. As she stumbled, a familiar teasing voice whispered in her ear, “Yan Xi, having fun?”

Caught red-handed… it was so embarrassing.

No need to guess—Bian Bian must have sold her out.

“Y-Yeah… it was pretty fun…” Yan Xi stammered as she awkwardly patted the back of his hand.

Even caught in the act, she couldn’t admit defeat.

From a distance, the white silhouette of the school beauty slowly approached, her face becoming clearer.

This wasn’t how Yan Xi had planned things.

Just as the pressure on her neck disappeared and she sighed in relief, she felt a warm breath near her ear. “I have something even more fun. Want to try?”

His lowered voice carried a magnetic quality, making her heart skip a beat.

Yan Xi’s instincts screamed at her to run!

But Jiang Chizhou didn’t give her the chance. Before she could react, he had already wrapped a hand around her waist.

He was strong, and she couldn’t break free.

The school beauty stopped a meter away, too frightened of Bian Bian to come any closer. She stared in disbelief at the scene before her, her eyes welling up with tears. “Jiang Chizhou, you… her… you two…?”

Jiang Chizhou’s hand remained firmly on Yan Xi’s waist, their body heat exchanging through his palm.

With a glint of amusement in his eyes, his deep brown pupils gleaming, he said, “Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend.”