SSB – Chapter 29.3

　Two weeks later.

　　This sports student confessed his feelings to her.

　　His voice still resembled Duan Jiaxu’s, but his tone was nervous and stumbled.

　　Sang Zhi had never heard Duan Jiaxu speak in such a manner.

　　It instantly brought her back to her senses, and following the advice Duan Jiaxu had given her, she earnestly rejected his confession.

　　She felt she was quite stubborn when it came to emotions.

　　Once she liked someone, it was difficult for her to develop feelings for another person.

　　However, no matter what, she couldn’t sabotage her own feelings or those of others.

　　She couldn’t choose someone with a resemblance to the person she couldn’t temporarily forget, just to use them as a substitute.

　　It was just that because of this matter, Sang Zhi occasionally felt that…

　　When she thought of Duan Jiaxu again, she didn’t seem to feel as sad anymore. Because the memories with him, except for the last time they met, were not gloomy.

　　The rest of the time was painted with mottled colors.

　　Vivid and beautiful.

　　At the end of June the following year, Sang Zhi’s college entrance exam results were announced. She performed consistently well, scoring over a hundred points above the admission cutoff for her desired universities. This score allowed her to apply to both of the universities she had in mind.

　　Her family hoped that she would apply to Nanwu University, not wanting her to go too far away.

　　After much consideration, Sang Zhi ultimately chose Yihe University.

　　Her perspective wasn’t quite the same as before. Solely because the Digital Media Art program she wanted to apply for had better prospects at Yihe University when compared to others.

　　On the day she went to register at the university, she didn’t bring much luggage, only a backpack and a suitcase.

　　Initially, her brother and father wanted to accompany her, but Sang Yan felt that there was no need for anyone to keep her company. After some persuasion, they reluctantly agreed to let her go by herself.

　　Sang Yan suggested that Duan Jiaxu come pick her up, but Sang Zhi declined.

　　She said it had been too long since they last met and she didn’t want to trouble him.

　　She disembarked from the plane, left the airport, and got on the Yihe University shuttle bus that was there to pick up incoming students. Guided by her seniors, she completed the registration process, received her dormitory assignment, and bought her daily necessities.

　　She greeted her roommates and gradually became familiar with them.

　　She participated in military training, started attending classes after it ended, and joined various club activities. She was doing everything she had imagined for her future, except for one thing.

　　The primary purpose of her arrival at Yihe University.

　　It seemed that in the midst of this process, it had gradually become something of little importance.

　　In mid-October, one of Sang Zhi’s roommates had a birthday. They took the subway for two stops and went to a seafood restaurant for dinner. Afterward, since it was still early, they decided to go to a nearby KTV place.

　　Coincidentally, the next day was a Saturday, and there were no curfews at the university.

　　Rather than singing, they spent more time drinking in the room.

　　Sang Zhi tried to distance herself, but she still ended up having several glasses of alcohol.

　　The private room was packed with over ten people. Sang Zhi was prone to getting flushed when she drank, and she quickly felt hot and stuffy. She found the place noisy and bothersome. Using the excuse of needing to use the restroom, she went outside to get some fresh air.

　　In addition to the main entrance, the KTV had a side door that led to a corridor connecting a nearby supermarket and a KFC.

　　The temperature outside was pleasantly cool.

　　The lights in the corridor seemed to be flickering, casting dim and hazy surroundings.

　　While leaning against the railing, Sang Zhi tried to reach into her pocket to take out her phone.

　　For some unknown reason, she found a square-shaped object in her pocket. She didn’t grasp it securely, and it fell onto the ground nearby.

　　Looking down, she realized it was a pack of women’s cigarettes.

　　As she was about to walk over to pick it up, she suddenly noticed a man standing near where the cigarette had fallen.

　　He had a tall and lean stature, wearing a simple white shirt. From this angle, she could only see the profile of his side face, indistinct and vague.

　　The man leaned against the wall, a cigarette held between his fingers, emitting a crimson glow. 

　　He felt somewhat familiar.

　　However, she didn’t dare to entertain her thoughts about it.

　　Sang Zhi felt that the pack of cigarettes was probably casually slipped into her pocket by one of her friends. She pursed her lips, lowered her head slightly, took two steps toward it, and was about to pick it up.

　　At that moment, the man made a move.

　　His eyelids twitched, and he casually bent down, picking up the pack of cigarettes for her.

　　The light above them, for once, stopped its dramatic flickering.

　　Sang Zhi could now see his face clearly.

　　Peach blossom eyes, a devilish countenance. And that expression, always lightly playful and frivolous.

　　She saw him gazing at the pack of cigarettes, then he raised his eyes, their gazes meeting in slow-motion, as if from an old movie. Then he raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing, and in that familiar tone, he drawled, “Little Sang Zhi.”

　　Just like any other time before.