SSB – Chapter 12.1

Chapter 12

　　A noisy heavy metal music was playing in the car, making Sang Zhi’s heart numb with the vibrations. This also eased her discomfort slightly.

　　As she sat in the backseat, Duan Jiaxu didn’t fasten his seatbelt. He didn’t get too close either, just leaning forward slightly. There was still an empty seat between them, not too close, not too far.

　　Sang Zhi’s breath caught, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She wanted to follow his words and touch her own face, but she could clearly sense the teasing tone in his words, making it insincere. In an instant, she felt a sense of displeasure as if she had been played by an older man.

　　She stopped her action and replied with a straight face, “Where do you think you’re handsome?”

　　Qian Fei’s gaze was still trained at the back. Upon hearing this, he instinctively glanced at Sang Zhi with a disgruntled expression and said, “Exactly! And Duan Jiaxu, can you have some restraint? She’s just a kid, why would she blush?”

　　The music was a bit loud, and Sang Yan hadn’t paid much attention to their conversation. Through Qian Fei’s words, he probably guessed what Duan Jiaxu had just said. He lowered the volume a bit and glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

　　”He’s always like that, isn’t he?”

　　”Yeah.” Qian Fei turned his head back, rolling his eyes as if he wished to see the sky. “Last time during the physical fitness test, after I finished running the 1000 meters, I was panting like a dog. He came over, saw me, and asked why I blushed every time I saw him.”

　　Sang Zhi: “…”

　　Duan Jiaxu leaned back in the seat, slumping into a lump like a pile of mud, as if he had no bones. Upon hearing Qian Fei’s words, he chuckled softly, refraining from interrupting.

　　Qian Fei grew more indignant as he spoke, “I was already out of breath, and then I heard him say that. I nearly suffocated.”

　　”Not just humans,” Sang Yan turned the steering wheel and joined in on the attack against Duan Jiaxu with a slightly mocking tone, “He talks like that even to dogs.”

　　”Huh?” Qian Fei was stunned for a few seconds before bursting into laughter suddenly. “He talks to dogs too, blushing at the sight of him, their Big Bro?”

　　”…”

　　Sang Zhi visualized that scene.

　　Qian Fei gave a thumbs-up to Duan Jiaxu: “Impressive.”

　　Afterwards, he consoled Sang Zhi, “Little Sister, don’t pay attention to him. This Big Brother is not a good person. Just play with your phone for a while, and we’ll arrive soon.” 

　　Sang Zhi glanced at Duan Jiaxu and nodded expressionlessly.

　　Only then did Duan Jiaxu speak lazily, “Qian Fei, are you still sowing discord?”

　　Qian Fei exclaimed, “Was I sowing discord?”

　　Without waiting for anyone to respond, he looked at Sang Zhi again, “Little Sister, was I sowing discord?”

　　Sang Zhi shook her head, “No.”

　　Qian Fei innocently spread his hands in front.

　　Holding onto her seatbelt, Sang Zhi deliberately added seriously, “This brother indeed doesn’t seem like a good person.”

　　Upon hearing her words, Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids twitched as he looked at her. As if thinking he misheard, he slowly repeated, “I don’t seem like a good person?”

　　Sang Zhi ignored him.

　　”Fine,” Duan Jiaxu’s lips curved nonchalantly, and he said meaningfully, “I’m not a good person.”

　　Feigning deafness, Sang Zhi looked outside the window.

　　After a few seconds, she faintly heard a remark from his direction.

　　”Little white-eyed wolf.”

Note: White-eyed wolf generally describes an ungrateful person in this context.

　　-

　　Sang Yan drove the car to a commercial area near their home.

　　This commercial area was newly built, and many shops were still unoccupied, so they hadn’t started operating yet. Only a few scattered shops were open, giving the area a somewhat deserted look.

　　Concerned about parking in this area, Sang Yan dropped the three of them off first before parking the car in the underground parking lot alone.

　　After getting out of the car, Sang Zhi felt increasingly uncomfortable. And this feeling was different from having diarrhea. Suddenly, she had a terrible guess in her mind and silently walked behind..

　　When they were about the same age, Li Ping had told her about menstruation. Including their classmates, most of the girls had already experienced their first period, and occasionally Sang Zhi overheard them discussing this topic.

　　Watching them skip physical education classes, drink hot water in the hot summer because of it, and go to the restroom during every break because of it.

　　She had seen and heard so much about it.

　　At this moment, even if she were slow to catch on, Sang Zhi could connect the dots.

　　Li Ping was very attentive in this regard. She had specifically prepared two sanitary pads in each of Sang Zhi’s bags, just in case of unforeseen needs.

　　But Sang Zhi was just going out for dinner and didn’t bring a bag at all. Her mind went blank, and her walking speed slowed down. She started hoping that it was all just her overthinking.

　　Duan Jiaxu and Qian Fei walked ahead.

　　Qian Fei was excitedly telling Duan Jiaxu about the game he had just played with Sang Yan.

　　Duan Jiaxu listened absentmindedly. Soon, he noticed that Sang Zhi was still lagging behind. He stopped and turned back. He asked, “Hey, Kiddo, why are you walking so slowly?”

　　Sang Zhi’s lips moved, but she didn’t say anything.

　　”Come up front.” Duan Jiaxu waved at her. “If you walk in the back, someone might kidnap you, and we won’t even notice.”

　　Qian Fei awkwardly scratched his head. “I forgot that Sang Yan has a little sister…”

　　Sang Zhi walked slowly over and whispered, “Gege, I want to go to the restroom.”

　　Seeing her expression, Duan Jiaxu said, “Why is your face so pale? Are you feeling unwell?”

　　”No,” Sang Zhi’s voice became even softer, “I just want to go to the restroom.”

　　Observing her, Duan Jiaxu roughly guessed what might be happening and lowered his voice to ask, “Is your stomach hurting?”

　　Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment and nodded.

　　”Let’s go inside the mall first.” Not wanting to embarrass her, Duan Jiaxu didn’t ask further. “I will take you to find the restroom.”

　　A few people in the car had already decided to have dinner at the newly opened barbecue restaurant on the third floor of the mall. Inside the mall, there were more people compared to outside, and there were also many shops in operation.

　　Duan Jiaxu asked Qian Fei to go and reserve a table.

　　Then, he looked around and asked, “Kiddo, do you have tissue?”

　　Sang Zhi remained quiet for a few seconds. “No.”

　　”Then go to the restroom first and see if there’s tissue in there,” Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment and continued, “If there’s none, text your brother, and he’ll buy it for you. Then I’ll ask a sister to bring it to you, okay?”

　　Both of them followed the directions on the signs.

　　Shaking her head, Sang Zhi awkwardly said, “I can go by myself.”

　　”Should I let you go alone?” Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is this your first time coming here? If you get lost, your brother will come to me. By then, where can I find you?” 

　　Sang Zhi mumbled, “Don’t we have mobile phones?”

　　Duan Jiaxu chuckled, “Why are you so argumentative when going to the restroom?”

　　Sang Zhi immediately fell silent.

　　Stopping about ten meters away from the restroom, Duan Jiaxu said, “Go ahead.”