Even though her eyes were still red and she looked like she had been bullied, Sang Zhi refused to show weakness.
It seemed like both times she was upset had something to do with him. Duan Jiaxu sighed and started to loosen up, asking, “Thirteen years old, in the first year of junior high?”
Without looking at him, Sang Zhi replied stiffly, “The seventh grade.”
”Which school?”
”Xuri Middle School.” After hesitating for a moment, not sure if her sudden thought was appropriate, she reluctantly added, “Class 1-1 in the first year.”
Duan Jiaxu repeated slowly, “Sunrise Middle School, Class 1-1 in the first year…”
Then, he bent down, meeting her gaze.
”Little one, what’s your name?”
Sang Zhi gently pursed her lips and whispered, “My name is Sang Zhi.”
”Sang Zhi?”
”Yes.” Avoiding his gaze involuntarily, she added, “The ‘Zhi’ in childish.”
Duan Jiaxu affectionately pinched her cheek, “Alright then, Little Sang Zhi.”
”…”
He lowered his voice as if whispering to her, making sure no one else could hear.
”Do you know when the next time will be?”
-
After bidding farewell to Li Ping, the two of them left the Sang residence.
The sun had completely set, and the evening glow painted the entire sky, with a slight chill in the air.
Duan Jiaxu suddenly asked, “Is your younger sister obedient?”
”Obedient?” Sang Yan sneered. He somehow found a lollipop and was currently biting on it. “That little devil is going through a rebellious phase, hard to manage.”
Rebellious phase.
Hard to manage.
That’s fine.
Duan Jiaxu considered for a moment. After all, she was still an immature child, and he wasn’t sure if anything serious had happened. He still mentioned the matter to Sang Yan, “Your sister has been called in by the school, and she just asked me if I could help her see the teacher. You should take a look and decide how to handle it.”
Sang Yan clicked his tongue, “No wonder she kept you for dinner. I knew that Little Devil wasn’t up to any good.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled but didn’t say anything.
”It’s probably not a big deal. She’s been called in multiple times, and it’s always for the same few reasons.” Sang Yan was busy replying to messages on his phone, seemingly distracted. “Are you free tomorrow?”
”Tomorrow, hmm…”
”Yeah. If you’re not, forget it. I’ll let my mom know later.”
He just promised her, and now he was going to tell the parents.
That kid would probably cry again.
”You can’t do that.” Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows and eyes drooped as he casually said, “You can’t lie to a child.”
-
Hearing the sound of the door closing at the entrance. Sang Zhi sneaked a glance, then ran barefoot to Li Ping’s side, “Mom, why did my brother come back?”
Li Ping replied, “He said he was playing basketball nearby and stopped by to take a shower.”
”But it’s so late, why didn’t you invite them to have dinner?”
”Your brother’s friend had something else to do.” Li Ping didn’t really mind this matter and asked leisurely, “By the way, did your brother really hit you?”
”…” Sang Zhi immediately felt guilty and didn’t dare to ask further. She turned around and ran to her room, saying, “I’m going to do my homework!”
Back in her room, she locked the door.
Sang Zhi kicked away her slippers and jumped onto the bed, pulling a nearby plush toy into her arms. Her mood was still not good, but her thoughts seemed to drift away. The last sentence Duan Jiaxu said kept echoing in her mind.
— “Do you know when the next time will be?”
This response should be in answer to her question, “When will be the next time?”
This means he will come, right?
Sang Zhi finally heaved a sigh of relief, turned over, and swung her legs back and forth, humming a happy tune. She looked at the darkening sky outside and continued to think about what happened just now.
Rewind a bit…
Duan Jiaxu raised his hand and pinched her face.
”…”
”?”
Sang Zhi immediately sat up.
She was just pinched on the face by that man, right?
That’s right, right?
How could he pinch her face?
It was just their first meeting!!!
He! How! Could he! Pinch my face!
Never mind the fact that he pinched her.
Why! Did! He! Have to get so close!
And..And!
Call her “Little Sang Zhi”…
Forget it.
Sang Zhi calmed her emotions and pretended not to care, emphasizing, “Forget it.”
Just treat it as him doing her a favor, reluctantly letting him take advantage of her.
Her gaze swept across the room, and she happened to see the mirror on the desk.
As her eyes met her own reflection, she noticed her blushing face.
Sang Zhi’s composure instantly collapsed.
?
You! Why! Did you! Have to put on such a! It’s you! You’ve taken advantage of me! Tsk! Look at your face!!!
It was the first time she’s had such emotions after living for thirteen years.
Sang Zhi rolled back onto the bed, feeling at a loss as she wrapped herself in the blanket, sensing the air inside becoming thinner and thinner.
Then, she listened to the sound of her heartbeat getting louder and louder.
-
Early the next morning.
After freshening up, when Sang Zhi walked out of the living room, both Sang Rong and Li Ping were already sitting at the dining table having breakfast. Since she had found a helper, she acted as if nothing had happened and didn’t mention anything about talking to the parents.
She took her seat at the dining table.
Li Ping served a bowl of lean meat porridge for Sang Zhi.
Having just woken up, she didn’t feel like talking.
The house was quiet.
Sang Zhi sipped her porridge slowly and suddenly remembered Duan Jiaxu’s reaction yesterday. She sighed and asked softly, “Dad, am I a bit short?”
Sang Rong looked at her and asked, “Who told you that?”
Sang Zhi nodded, always attributing everything to Sang Yan: “Gege said so.”
Li Ping said, “Don’t listen to your brother.”
Sang Zhi poked the bottom of the bowl with her spoon: “But my classmates are only twelve years old, yet they are all taller than me. Yin Zhenru is already 1.6 meters tall.”
Sang Rong comforted her, “You’re still young, you’ll grow taller.”
”You and Dad are both tall, why am I not growing taller? When I take the bus, people still offer me a seat, thinking I’m a primary school student.” Sang Zhi’s mood was particularly low. She asked sullenly, “Was my brother 1.5 meters tall when he was thirteen?”
Li Ping hesitated, “Your brother is a boy, so…”
Sang Rong suddenly interrupted her and answered Sang Zhi’s question, “No.”
”…”
”How can he be that tall?” Sang Rong said calmly, “I don’t remember well, but I vaguely have an impression. At that time, your brother should have been less than 1.4 meters tall.”
”…”
Author’s note:
Sang Yan: In order to make my little sister happy, I don’t even qualify for being 1.4 meters tall.
Peek-Aboo 
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