Chapter 6
Sang Zhi’s voice was not loud, and her tone was calm. But perhaps because the content was too shocking, at this moment, it seemed as if her words were amplified through a loudspeaker and reached the ears of the other two.
Silence was broken, and there was a momentary relaxation in the atmosphere. Then, they entered an even more awkward situation.
Duan Jiaxu curved his lips but remained silent.
The woman couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It was whether her words struck a chord or if he considered it an inconsequential joke. The smile on her face couldn’t be maintained, and she slowly lowered the hand holding the phone.
Sang Zhi secretly glanced in Duan Jiaxu’s direction.
Coincidentally, their eyes met. She immediately lowered her gaze, clutching her school bag against her chest, and pretended to fiddle with her phone as if she were just part of the background.
A few more seconds passed.
Duan Jiaxu withdrew his gaze and echoed Sang Zhi’s words, “Well, I’m a bit of a scoundrel.”
”…”
”And recently, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed,” he chuckled lightly. Shaking the phone in his hand casually, he nonchalantly added, “If you want to call me, you might have to wait in line.”
His tone was casual, as if he didn’t find anything improper about these words, and there was no trace of shame on his face. It was as if he believed that having a good appearance made him superior.
Duan Jiaxu playfully raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to reconsider?”
The woman took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. “No need.”
”That’s a shame,” Duan Jiaxu sighed, sounding regretful, “How about leaving your contact information just in case? You might change your mind someday…”
Before he could finish speaking, the woman turned her head and walked away without a word.
Now, only Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu were left standing there.
After the woman’s figure disappeared from sight, Duan Jiaxu turned his head and looked at Sang Zhi. He asked casually, “Kiddo, I can’t reach thirty girlfriends, what should I do?”
”…”
His tone was gentle and calm, as if he genuinely wanted her opinion.
It was like hiding a dagger behind a smile.
Sang Zhi even felt that he might be better off getting angry with her. The impact might not be as strong.
”Missing one?” Duan Jiaxu smiled and said, “How will this month go?”
”…” Sang Zhi dared not speak, coughing uncomfortably twice, feeling a shiver down her spine. A sense of timidity overwhelmed her.
Duan Jiaxu, standing by her side, didn’t say anything more, maintaining an eerie silence.
It was as if he was brewing something significant.
Sang Zhi was genuinely frightened; this time, she didn’t even dare to steal a glance and obediently stood in place. The uncertain future made her anxious and uneasy. Swallowing her saliva, she discreetly took a step back.
Summoning her courage, she quickly said, “Goodbye, Gege.” Then, suddenly, she dashed forward as if fleeing.
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow and easily caught her by the arm, pulling her back.
”Are you running away?” he asked.
She hadn’t run two steps before being caught.
Sang Zhi suddenly realized that her chances of escaping were practically zero.
She was deflated.
”It’s too late… It’s almost dark now,” Sang Zhi murmured, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s chirp, “My mom will worry if she sees me still not back home.”
Duan Jiaxu symbolically glanced at the sky. “It’s late, how can I let you go back alone?”
Sang Zhi quickly responded, “It’s okay, the station is nearby, and I’ll be almost home after getting off the train. You should go back to school too; otherwise, you’ll be home very late.”
”Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu said, “Why didn’t I realize that you cared about me so much before?”
”…” Since she couldn’t escape anyway, Sang Zhi decided to be straightforward, “Gege, it’s just a small matter. Why are you pondering it for so long? You haven’t lost anything.”
Duan Jiaxu lazily retorted, “How is it not a loss?”
Sang Zhi justified herself, “You thought for so long just because you didn’t want to give that girl your number, but you also couldn’t refuse. Wasn’t I helping you just now? Logically speaking, you should at least thank me, you know?”
The little girl was quite good at blabbering without even blinking her eyes. Duan Jiaxu stared at her for several seconds, seemingly amused. He gently tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, “Alright.”
”But Gege, you helped me just now too.” Even though he agreed, Sang Zhi still lacked confidence. She could only muster up her courage and say, “So, let’s call it even.”
”That won’t do,” Duan Jiaxu said, “Come on, I will personally come to thank you.”
”…”
At this age, the two most frightening words for a child were probably “Tell the teacher” and “Call the parents.”
People in front of her always use these two points to intimidate her, instantly sapping her will. Sang Zhi didn’t dare to provoke him further and said with frustration, “Why do you always threaten to tell my parents? It’s so childish.”
Duan Jiaxu raised the corner of his eyes slightly and said casually, “Well, I’m just missing a girlfriend. Don’t I have the right to be in a bad mood?”
Sang Zhi retorted, “But you came to help me talk to the teacher, not to go on a blind date.”
”Fair enough. Tell me, who taught you these things?” Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Changing girlfriends every day, it’s like I’m a duck.”
Sang Zhi blinked her eyes, not understanding what he meant., “Why is that like a duck?”
”…”
”…” Suddenly realizing that the person in front of him was just a child who had just entered middle school, Duan Jiaxu’s expression froze for a moment. He scratched his face and then picked up the backpack she was carrying without changing his expression. He said, “It’s like having a pet, raising a duck, and then giving the duck a new owner every day.”
Sang Zhi then pulled her arms out of the straps. She thought for a moment, feeling a bit strange about the analogy, but still pretended to understand.
”Oh.”
The powder-blue backpack ended up in his hands just like that.
Duan Jiaxu weighed the backpack in his hands and changed the subject, “Why is it so light?”
They walked in the direction of the train station.
Sang Zhi replied, “There’s nothing much I need to bring.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “What about your homework?”
Sang Zhi’s expression finally changed. Hesitatingly, she said, “I don’t feel like doing it.”
”Not feel like doing it?” Duan Jiaxu said, “Then what are you going to spend your time on?”
”…”
Peek-Aboo 
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