Subconsciously, she called out, “Brother, can you make me some instant noodles and add some ham?”
Because of the foam in her mouth, her speech was a bit muffled.
Afterward, Sang Zhi turned on the faucet and rinsed the foam from her mouth.
She didn’t quite catch whether Sang Yan responded or not.
Sang Zhi washed her face and quickly came out of the bathroom.
She climbed onto a dining chair and heard faint rustling sounds from the kitchen. She casually asked, “Brother, do you know why the tutor didn’t come?”
”…”
Sang Zhi heard the sound of packaging being torn, and it paused for a moment before resuming.
Sang Zhi didn’t pay much attention, “Is Mom not planning to look for another tutor? Or did that tutor oversleep so he hasn’t arrived yet? Brother, in that case, this person’s professional attitude is lacking. They’re late on their first day of work.”
The sound of water boiling came from the kitchen.
Sang Zhi picked up a piece of candy from nearby, tore it open, and tossed it into her mouth. “Otherwise, we could consider changing tutors. But I think it’s almost Chinese New Year now, so it might not be easy to find a replacement. Maybe it’s best not to bother.”
”…”
”Brother, if you speak up for me,” Sang Zhi thought for a moment, “I’ll give you a hundred yuan from my Chinese New Year red envelope.”
”…”
”Why aren’t you talking?”
”…”
”How about two hundred?”
Even in this situation, she still couldn’t get his response. It was as if he utterly disregarded her offer of such a small amount of money.
Sang Zhi gritted her teeth and doubled the price, “Five hundred! Five hundred will do!”
The next second, there was movement at Sang Yan’s door again, accompanied by his slightly impatient tone, “What are you yelling about so early in the morning?”
Sang Zhi froze and turned her head.
She saw Sang Yan yawning as he sat down next to her.
The noise from the kitchen continued.
Sang Zhi realized something was off and lowered her voice, “Brother, who’s in the kitchen?”
”Hmm?” Sang Yan lazily responded, “It’s Duan Jiaxu, didn’t Mom tell you? He’s here to be your tutor.”
”…”
Sang Zhi’s expression turned to stone. “Ah, ah?”
”What ‘ah’? You’re so shameless to be late like that. He has been waiting for you for half an hour.” Hearing the sounds from the kitchen, Sang Yan asked, “Hey, Duan Jiaxu, are you cooking noodles?”
Before long, a nonchalant voice came from the kitchen, “Yeah.”
Sang Zhi: “…”
Soon, Duan Jiaxu walked out of the kitchen holding a pot of noodles. He had a handsome appearance, with a touch of elegance. Wearing a white sweater with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he still managed to exude an air of refinement without a trace of worldly roughness.
Sang Zhi felt extremely guilty and immediately lowered her head, pretending as if she hadn’t said anything earlier.
Sang Yan glanced into the pot and got up to fetch bowls from the kitchen.
Duan Jiaxu sat down across from Sang Zhi and casually said, “Good morning.”
”…Good morning.”
”You were sleeping quite soundly.” Duan Jiaxu leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Your brother knocked on your door a few times to wake you up, but you didn’t respond, so he stopped knocking.”
Sang Zhi braced herself and replied, “I stayed up a bit late last night.”
”Is that so?” His eyelids flickered, and he mused, “Or were you pretending not to hear?”
Sang Zhi immediately retorted, “I really didn’t hear.”
Sang Yan brought three sets of bowls and chopsticks out and gave them a quick glance. “Didn’t hear anything?”
Sang Zhi whispered, “I didn’t hear you knocking.”
”Didn’t hear?” Sang Yan remembered the incident now that it was brought up. He put a bowl of noodles in front of Sang Zhi and sneered, “Shall I play back a recording of firecrackers and see if you can hear that.”
”…”
-
During that breakfast, Sang Zhi ate restlessly.
She always felt that Duan Jiaxu’s gaze was occasionally flickering towards her, as if holding some lingering resentment. After finishing the last bite of noodles, she quickly used the excuse of tidying up to dash back to her room.
As Sang Zhi flipped through her books, she thought about what she had just said.
Actually, it wasn’t so bad.
None of her words were truly directed at him.
He…He should’t get upset after that, right?
Sang Zhi sighed and nervously carried her study materials out of the room.
Her room’s desk was small, just enough for one person, but it felt cramped with two. Li Ping had informed her in advance that the tutoring session would take place in Sang Yan’s room.
As she was about to enter Sang Yan’s room, Sang Zhi sneakily glanced towards the direction of the dining room.
But there was no one there.
She arranged her things and then walked to the living room, feeling suspicious. She found the two men sitting on the couch playing video games, using the same controller that Sang Yan had bought with the two hundred yuan he took from her.
Sang Zhi was somewhat speechless: “Aren’t we supposed to be studying?”
Sang Yan’s gaze didn’t move at all: “We just finished eating, what’s there to study? Go read your books first.”
”…” Sang Zhi felt that Duan Jiaxu was definitely introduced by Sang Yan as her tutor, and if that was the case, besides teaching her, he could also accompany Sang Yan in playing games. “Brother, did you find me a tutor or did you find yourself a playmate?”
Duan Jiaxu’s laughter carried a few breaths as he whispered, “Kiddo, wait a moment. I will play one game and then teach you.”
Sang Zhi glanced at him and reluctantly sat down on the side.
He was slouched lazily, always leaning against the back of the chair with a tired look. Next to him was the window sill, and a few rays of sunlight fell on the tips of his hair, making his hair color appear even lighter.
Sang Zhi had never seen him play games, and at this moment, she couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.
Duan Jiaxu’s hands were also beautiful, with long and powerful fingers and distinct palm lines, where faint blue blood vessels could be seen. Compared to his usual careless appearance, he looked more focused, gentle, and refined now.
His face was still stunningly beautiful, extraordinarily dazzling.
Sang Zhi pursed her lips and suddenly felt her phone in her pocket. Her gaze stopped for a moment, and then she looked in Duan Jiaxu’s direction again. He seemed completely oblivious to her observation, still focused on the TV.
A thought suddenly floated in her mind.
A very compelling idea.
Sang Zhi wiped her sweaty palms on her pants, opened the camera on her phone, carefully lifted it up, and discreetly covered the other parts of the phone with a cushion, aiming the lens at Duan Jiaxu.
She held her breath and pressed the capture button.
It just so happened that the game ended, and the living room fell silent.
Then, Sang Zhi’s phone emitted an unusually loud “click.”
In this silence, it sounded exceptionally clear.
Perhaps it was Sang Zhi’s imagination, but she felt that the sound was almost deafening.
Both Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan were drawn to this sound, both looking at her simultaneously.
”…”
Sang Zhi’s head was instantly filled with blood.
Oh no. Oh no-no-no-no-no.
It’s over.
I’m done for! I didn’t mute the sound!
AHHH!!!
Peek-Aboo 
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