That day, after school, Sang Zhi hurried back home and broke the piggy bank she had prepared specifically for Duan Jiaxu. She took the money from inside and sneaked into her parents’ room to take their identification cards.
Subsequently, she went to a ticket sales point near her home and bought a ticket to Yihe for the next day at noon. The following day, she put on her backpack, said goodbye to her parents as usual, and then left the house.
But Sang Zhi didn’t take the usual bus she should have taken. She went to a nearby KFC, changed out of her school uniform, then hailed a taxi and headed to Nanwu Airport.
This was Sang Zhi’s first time flying alone.
The first time she traveled to such a distant place all by herself.
Three hours later, Sang Zhi disembarked the plane.
Before the trip, Sang Zhi hadn’t checked the weather. The temperature in Yihe was considerably lower than in Nanwu, and she was only wearing a long-sleeved shirt, shivering from the cold. She turned on her phone.
She saw dozens of missed calls.
All the calls were from family members.
Sang Zhi felt guilty and scared. She found Sang Yan’s number and nervously dialed it back.
The call was immediately answered, accompanied by Sang Yan’s anxious voice, “Sang Zhi?”
Sang Zhi responded with an “Mmm.”
Sang Yan: “Where did you go? Your teacher said you weren’t at school. What time is it?”
”Brother,” Sang Zhi spoke slowly, “I’m in Yihe City.”
”…”
Sang Zhi told a lie, “That person I had an online relationship with before asked me to come.”
”…” There was silence on the other end, as if someone was suppressing anger. After a long while, Sang Yan’s voice came out in a strained tone, “Where are you in Yihe now?”
”At the airport.”
”Find a place to wait, I’ll have Duan Jiaxu go over first,” Sang Yan’s voice turned cold, “If you dare go meet that so-called online entity, just wait until you come back, I’ll see if I’ll beat you to death or not.”
I understand.”
Sang Zhi lowered her eyes and entered the airport.
She found a seat, her gaze staring into space, feeling somewhat lost. Knowing that what she was doing was very wrong, knowing that her actions would make everyone worry, but she just couldn’t help herself.
Sang Zhi received calls from Sang Rong and Li Ping one after another, listening to their worried and frustrated voices. They didn’t scold her anymore, just reminded her to stay safe.
After some time passed, Sang Zhi’s phone rang again. This time, the caller ID showed Duan Jiaxu’s number.
She answered in silence.
Duan Jiaxu: “Where are you?”
His tone was clearly irritated, distant and cold.
Sang Zhi looked around and whispered, “By the benches next to the T3 exit.”
It had been almost a year since they last met.
He looked more mature now, with an expressionless face, dressed in a shirt and suit pants, a coat draped over his arms. Clearly, he had rushed over.
Clearly, he had rushed over.
Sang Zhi’s gaze shifted, and she noticed a very attractive woman standing beside him.
She immediately lowered her eyes.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze swept over and quickly spotted her. He let out a sigh and walked briskly over. He crouched down in front of her and draped his coat around her without a word.
Sang Zhi couldn’t find the words to speak either. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the woman’s vibrant red high heels.
Duan Jiaxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he chuckled in exasperation. “Online dating, huh?”
”…”
”You don’t remember what I told you before,” Duan Jiaxu’s tone was stern, “Sang Zhi, now that you’ve grown up, you dare to go to such a faraway place alone?”
Sang Zhi lifted her head, gazing steadily at Duan Jiaxu, then turned to look at the beautiful woman beside him. She wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
She really wanted to ask.
Did you really start dating someone?
Did you really become someone else’s?
Didn’t you say you would tell me?
Did you think it’s okay to deceive me just because I’m young?
Did you lie to me?
But Sang Zhi didn’t dare.
”Speak,” Duan Jiaxu demanded.
The woman beside him couldn’t help but interject, “Jiaxu, don’t be so harsh on the young girl.”
Duan Jiaxu ignored her and continued to focus on Sang Zhi.
Suppressing a lump in her throat, Sang Zhi slowly apologized, “I’m sorry.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Did he ask you to come?”
Sang Zhi: “I came on my own.”
”Did you meet him?”
”Yes,” Sang Zhi whispered, “He thought I’m too young.”
”…” Duan Jiaxu’s expression softened. “He’s gone?”
”Hmm.”
”Sang Zhi, he did the right thing. You’re still too young.” Seeing her pitiful appearance, Duan Jiaxu’s anger gradually subsided. “It’s not appropriate this way, you know?”
Sang Zhi looked at him, her eyes becoming increasingly red. “But I will grow up.”
She murmured repeatedly, “I will grow up.”
”Then let’s talk about it when you’ve grown up, alright?”
”But he will,” tears welled up in Sang Zhi’s eyes, and she held back her sobs as she said, “He will like someone else.”
It was something she couldn’t prevent, no matter how hard she tried.
Suddenly, Sang Zhi remembered the scene from a year ago, when he was smoking on her balcony. He looked so lonely and hopeless back then.
And now, there was another person standing beside him.
Maybe she shouldn’t be so selfish.
He was such a good person.
He deserved to have someone else’s companionship.
Why should he wait for her?
In two years, he would be twenty-five as well. If he met the right person, maybe he would be considering marriage too. He couldn’t stay single for so many years.
Wouldn’t he be happier that way?
Seeing her like this, Duan Jiaxu couldn’t summon any more anger. He didn’t know how to comfort her, so he just patted her head and said, “When our Little Sang Zhi grows up, I’m sure you’ll also meet someone better.”
A few seconds of silence reigned.
Sang Zhi pulled a box from the bag beside her, her lips moved.
”Brother…” Those affectionate words, as she grew older, she couldn’t bring herself to say them anymore. Sang Zhi lowered her head, softly called out, “Brother Jiaxu.”
”…”
”I got you a birthday present,” Sang Zhi said, “I thought I’d bring it over while I’m here.”
Duan Jiaxu paused. “Thank you.”
”I’m sorry for the trouble. I won’t do this again,” tears fell from Sang Zhi’s eyes, her voice quivering as she spoke, “I want to wait here for my brother to come.”
Unrequited love was perhaps the sweetest and most painful thing in the world.
Sang Zhi suddenly remembered the two dreams she wrote down when she was in eighth grade.
With each stroke of the pen, the young girl, at the purest and most passionate stage of her emotions, wrote down dreams she believed she could fulfill.
So she worked hard for them, continuously moving towards that goal.
Then she realized.
Dreams, as it turns out, might also be impossible to achieve.
At the age of youthful innocence, she secretly discovered a treasure.
Regrettably, she couldn’t become the one to uncover that treasure.
Peek-Aboo 
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