The weather in October was still warm, with a slight coolness in the evenings, but it couldn’t dispel the sense of sultriness.
In the instant of confirming that it was indeed Sang Zhi, Duan Jiaxu’s gaze narrowed slightly. Subconsciously, he extinguished the cigarette butt, and when he went to toss it into the trash, he suddenly noticed another pack of women’s cigarettes in her other hand.
His movement halted.
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes again and gave a slight shake of his hand towards the cigarette. He asked, “Who taught you to smoke?”
After two years apart, the young girl had clearly grown taller. Last time they met, she had just reached his shoulder; now, she could reach his chin.
Her facial features hadn’t changed much, just matured slightly. Compared to her previous innocent appearance, she now exuded a touch of teenage charm.
She was wearing a pink halter top and light blue denim shorts, revealing a slim waist, shapely collarbones, and two slender, straight legs.
Her naturally light-colored hair was gathered into a small bun on her head, giving her a pretty and refreshing look.
Truly, she had undergone a significant transformation since becoming a young adult.
Sang Zhi was completely taken aback, staring at him in bewilderment. After a while, she retracted her hand and muttered softly, “It’s not mine.”
”This Brother saw it with his own eyes,” Duan Jiaxu’s tone was lazy, “It fell from you.”
”…”
”Little Sangzhi, you haven’t been behaving well.”
Hearing the words “Brother” from his mouth, Sang Zhi felt like she had entered a different world. She didn’t explain further, just gestured to the cigarette in his hand. “You smoke too.”
”When did I smoke in front of you?” Duan Jiaxu flicked the cigarette butt away, casually putting the pack of cigarettes into his pocket. “I’m confiscating this.”
”…” Sang Zhi didn’t expect him to do that, and hastily explained, “It really isn’t mine, it belongs to my friend.”
”Hmm,\.” Duan Jiaxu looked at her and suddenly noticed something. With a slight rise in his tone, he said, “Little One, let’s not dwell on other things. After not seeing me for so long, don’t you know how to greet me properly?”
Sang Zhi hesitated, pursed her lips, and awkwardly called out, “Brother Jiaxu.”
”Did you come here to hang out?”
”Yeah.”
”When did your military training finish?” Like being questioned by parents for coming home late, Sang Zhi touched her head and honestly replied, “It ended halfway through last month, about two weeks of training.”
”How about the seven-day National Day holiday?” Duan Jiaxu smirked, “Why didn’t I see you come to play with me?”
Initially, Sang Zhi thought that after not seeing each other for so long, the limited communication they had would make it a bit awkward for them when talking face to face, especially considering they had been mostly communicating through social media.
But it wasn’t the case.
Only she found the situation a bit awkward.
She glanced at him and muttered, “I had other things to do.”
Duan Jiaxu: “What things?”
”Classes.”
”Attending classes during the break?”
”Uh…” Sang Zhi instantly felt something was off and corrected herself, “Part-time job.”
”Ah, I used to work part-time too.” Sensing that she was just making excuses, Duan Jiaxu looked nonchalant, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “And also had to find time to help you meet with your teachers, check your homework, and pick you up.”
”…”
”Little white-eyed wolf.”
”…”
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
He straightened up, his features appearing subdued in the dim light. He reached into his pocket and extended the pack of cigarettes toward her, coolly uttering two words, “It’s fine.”
Sang Zhi hesitated to take it.
”The young lady lacks a bit of conscience,” Duan Jiaxu’s gentle laughter filled the air, “but that’s alright.”
”…” Sang Zhi felt somewhat annoyed by his remark and managed to force out, “Well, back then, you were already in your second or third year of college, while I’m just a freshman now.”
”Uh-huh,” Duan Jiaxu responded lightly, “Attacking my age now, huh.”
”…”
”Kiddo, think it over yourself.” Duan Jiaxu’s elbow rested on the railing, his fingertips tapping lightly on it. “Where have I treated you poorly?”
”I didn’t say that.” Sang Zhi couldn’t help retorting, “And besides, I’m already grown up. It sounds awkward for you to still call me Kiddo.”
”How grown up can you be?” Duan Jiaxu countered, “You still look like a kid.”
Sang Zhi reluctantly snatched the cigarette from his hand, her patience finally wearing thin. “Well, big brother, after not seeing you for a few years, you’ve certainly aged quite a bit.”
Duan Jiaxu wasn’t annoyed either and casually remarked, “Hmm, calling me Big Brother still sounds better.”
”…”
”Sang Zhi, go back and check your phone, do the math yourself,” Duan Jiaxu said. “How many calls from me did you not answer?”
Sang Zhi replied with little confidence, “I told you I was focusing on my studies.”
”Studying but isolating yourself from the world? Let’s talk about this later.” He glanced at the time, a slight upward twitch at the corner of his eyes. “It’s already eleven, aren’t you going back?”
”I don’t know when they’re leaving,” Sang Zhi also checked her phone. “I’ll head back for now.”
”…”
”Brother Jiaxu,” afraid of being accused of lacking conscience again, Sang Zhi asked very formally, “I didn’t get a chance to ask, why are you still here and not leaving?”
”There are new colleagues at the company, and they’re having an arty thing going on,” Duan Jiaxu casually explained, “Go get your stuff, I will take you back to school.”
Sang Zhi shook her head: “I’m going back with them.”
”Your call.” He didn’t insist.
Duan Jiaxu remained leaning in the same spot, his gaze lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Sang Zhi instinctively averted her eyes, catching a faint whiff of alcohol in the breeze. When she wore this outfit, she hadn’t thought much of it before.
But now, she had an inexplicable sensation, as if she had gone to school without her uniform and was about to be caught by the headmaster.
Sang Zhi then asked, “Have you been drinking?”
”Not at all,” Duan Jiaxu found it amusing. “Did you drink and now try to put the blame on me?”
Sang Zhi finally remembered. “Oh.”
He suddenly came up with, “Come closer.”
Sang Zhi didn’t move: “Why?”
”We haven’t seen each other for so long,” Duan Jiaxu stood his ground. His peach blossom eyes were shining brightly and splendidly. As if finding it somewhat miraculous, his voice sounded tinged with a smile, “Let me have a good look at how much Little Sang Zhi has grown.”
”…”
”How pretty you have become.”
Sang Zhi made way back to the private room.
Several people were already slumped in their seats, and one person had gotten quite drunk, howling loudly while holding a microphone. The smell of alcohol was pungent, and the volume was so high that it felt like it could burst eardrums.
She had just come in and wanted to leave immediately.
Noticing her presence, her friend, Wang Ruolan asked, “Hey, Sang Zhi, why did you take so long in the restroom? We were about to start playing cards.”
Sang Zhi sat down next to her. “When are we leaving?”
Wang Ruolan replied, “They said in a bit.”
”…” Sang Zhi commented, “But the subway will have stopped running.”
”We can get a ride back,” Wang Ruolan suggested, “Or take a bus, but I’m not sure when the last 888 bus runs.”
Sang Zhi couldn’t tolerate the smell in the private room. Perhaps due to having had a few drinks, she felt a bit queasy, “I’ll head back first, I can’t stay up late.”
The birthday star, Ning Wei, approached with a smile. “Sangsang, are you leaving?”
Sang Zhi: “Yeah.”
”How are you going back alone, this late?” Ning Wei asked, “Let Jiang Ming give you a ride.”
Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment: “Who is Jiang Ming?”
”Oh, him.” Ning Wei held onto her arm and discreetly pointed him out, then leaned in to whisper in her ear, “He’s in my department. Isn’t he quite handsome? I think he’s interested in you.”
”Don’t jump to conclusions. I haven’t even said a word to him.” Sang Zhi stood up and rubbed her slightly tired eyes. “It’s fine, the subway station is just outside. I’m leaving, I’m so tired.”
”Sure, take care.”
”Don’t stay out too late either, it’s not safe.”
”With so many people, what’s there to be afraid of?”
”Make sure you have your keys.”
”We do, we do.”
With that, Sang Zhi felt relieved and left the private room. The evening at the KTV was always particularly lively. The approaching staff members were exceptionally enthusiastic, and their greetings sounded like they had their own amplifiers.
She was startled at first, but soon got used to it.
She exited the KTV and walked down the stairs. She covered her face with her hand and finally had the mind and time to reflect on Duan Jiaxu’s appearance and the last thing he said.
Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, Sang Zhi felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.
Playboy.
An old playboy.
What does being pretty have to do with him?
Besides, I’ve been pretty since I was a child, and I’ll definitely be pretty when I grow up.
Did he have to look closely to see it?
Sang Zhi stopped and let out a breath slowly.
This reunion came too suddenly, catching her completely off guard. Although there was a sense of happiness, there was also a feeling of being flustered and overwhelmed.
She recalled Duan Jiaxu’s words again.
”How grown up can you be and not act like a child?”
Sang Zhi burst into laughter inexplicably.
As expected, it was exactly as she thought.
She has grown up, but to him, she’s still a kid. Maybe when she was in her seventies or eighties, he would still be clinging to the words “Kiddo” as if it was some kind of superior achievement.
Despite being just seven years older than her, he acted as if it was some kind of elevated status.
Sang Zhi felt a bit annoyed but couldn’t figure out how to vent her emotions. She had never used foul language and couldn’t bring herself to curse. After struggling for a moment, she managed to blurt out three words, “Old bastard.”
Just as the words left her mouth,
a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her, “Huh?”
”…” Sang Zhi stiffly turned her head.
”Are you referring to me, huh?” Duan Jiaxu was standing on the two steps behind her, as if he had stopped for as long as she did. He pondered for a moment, seeming to find it amusing. “Fair point.”
”…”
”It seems like I’m the only one you met tonight.” Duan Jiaxu stared at her, paused for a few seconds, then enunciated clearly, emphasizing each word, “Old… bastard.”
Peek-Aboo 
Leave a comment